Bag-jaw fastener.



R. L. PRAHAR.

BAG JAW PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25,1912.

1,032,770. Patented July 16, 1912.

ROBERT L. PRAHAR, OF MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK.

BAG-JAW FASTENER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March '25, 1912. Serial No. 686,176.

T '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. PRAHAR, a citizen of the United States, resident of Massapequa, Nassau count-y, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag- J aw Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in bag jaw fasteners of the same general type as that illustrated in my prior application, Serial No. 679,812, filed February 26, 1912, for use on hand-bags, valises, pocket-books, and the like, for preventing the accidental opening thereof.

In my present construction as well as in the ones above referred to, I employ a movable locking member, cooperating with the two balls, knobs, or projections on the two aws, so that when the latter snap past each other 1 they may be locked against return movement. In my present construction I mount the locking members in one of the projections, and in such a manner that it may move toward or into engagement with the other projection. Preferably this locking member is in the form of a sliding bolt in one of the knobs, movable into a recess or socket in the other knob in a direction normal to the line of tangency. This renders the locking member extremely simple and inconspicuous, and at the same time it has the maximum efliciency as the tendency of the two knobs to move in the opening of the jaws is in a direction at right angles to the axis of the bolt.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention: Fig. 2 is a side view thereof: Fig. Sis a transverse section through the knobs and taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1: and Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the bolt resiliently held in operative position.

My improved device is illustrated as being applied to the ordinary type of bag-frame, having two pivoted jaws 10 and 11 carrying projections 12 and 13 respectively. These two projections terminate in balls or knobs 14 and 15 the same as in the ordinary construction now in use. These knobs are mounted to snap pasteach other upon the closing of the jaws so as .to hold the jaws together as is well known by those familiar with the art. In my improved construction I provide a locking member, preferably in the form of a bolt 16, having a knob or ball 17, forming a head and supported in a bore passageway or opening 18, extending through one of the knobs 14; or 15. It is immaterial to which of these knobs the looking member 16 is applied, but it is illustrated as being mounted in the knob 15. The bolt is movable in a direction atright angles to the line of tangency of the two knobs 1 1 and 15 and in the knob 14 is a recess or socket 19 so placed that when the Patented July 16, 1912.

jaws are closed the bolt 16 may be movedendwise to enter this sopket. Preferably the bolt is provided with an up-set end 20 which prevents it from being withdrawn from the knob 15.

It is evident that the bolt 16 may be varied from the form shown in Fig. 3 and may be mounted in a different manner, but still accomplish the-same results. For instance, I may provide it with a spring, which will normally tend to move the bolt to operative position. In Fig. 4, I have shown a bolt 16 having a knob 17 on one end, and a head 20 on the other. The bore through the knob 15 is somewhat larger than the bolt, and receives a spring 21 between the head 20* and a shoulder 22. The bolt may be easily pulled back by grasping the head 17, but when released will move into the position shown in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that my improved device is extremely simple and inconspicuous. The only part of it which is normally visible is the head 17. When the locking member is in position it crosses the line of tangency of the two knobs, and no pressure on these knobs can move the bolt out of the socket or recess 19. \Vhen it is desired to open the bag, it is merely necessary to pull back slightly on the head 17, and the bag may then be opened in the ordinary manner. Should the bolt be pressed in,-when it is desired to close the jaws, the engagement of the knob 14 with the end of the bolt will automatically force it back and permit the jaws to close. If a spring be employed, as shown in Fig. t, the bolt will then automatically move into the socket and close the members. It will not be necessary to pay any attention to the device except in opening the bag, and the device will automatically and positively keep the bag locked against accidental opening.

I Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws, of co-acting knobs thereon, the knob on one of said jaws having a passage there-through and a locking member slidably mounted in said passage, and serving to normally prevent relative movement of said members.

2. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws, of, co-acting knobs thereon, the knob on one of said jaws having a socket, and the projection on other of said jaws having a sliding bolt adapt-ed to enter said socket.

The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws, of two projections mounted thereon, and adapted to contact with each other when said jaws are closed, and a sliding bolt carried by one of said projections and movable in a direction normal to the line of tangency of said projections to prevent relative movement of the latter.

4. The combination with a pairof pivoted jaws, of co-acting projections thereon, and each terminating in a ball or knob, said balls or knobs being mounted to spring past each other upon the closing of the aws, and a sliding member carried by one of said balls or knobs and movable in a direction at right angles to line of tangency to prevent the opening of the bag by the springing of said balls or knobs past each other in a reverse direction.

5. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws of co-acting projections thereon, and adapted to spring past each other and retain the jaw in closed position, and a spring pressed sliding bolt carried by one of said projections and adapted to engage with the other of said projections to lock them against relative movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROBERT L. PRAHAR.

WVitnesses:

CLAIR W'. FAIRBANK, KATHERINE DEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

